This project introduces undergraduate students to the basic principles of grounded mechanisms through an integrated process of design, fabrication, and testing. Grounded mechanisms, in which one or more components are connected to the ground, are powerful mechanical systems that support flexible and versitile shape-morphing, widely used in robotics and aerospace engineering.
Students will learn fundamental ideas of motion, constraints, and simple kinematics. Through hands-on activities, they will design simple grounded mechanisms, fabricate components using accessible tools such as 3D printing, and assemble and test their designs. The project emphasizes physical intuition, practical experience, and the connection between design concepts and deformation behavior.